Should I renovate my Hamptons home?

Renovating in the Hamptons can prove to be a very rewarding endeavor, both for homeowners and sellers. Our East End locale provides some significant challenges for building new homes and buying can be exponentially greater expense than renovating the home you already own. Moreover, a completed renovation is an investment you get to enjoy the benefits of immediately, whether it’s refreshing the space, adding additional space, or making some stylistic changes. Not only do you get to experience that new home feeling within a familiar place, but you also increase your home’s value, more often than not making a profit on the investment.

Renovation might not be right for everyone. If you’re seeking a larger home and do not have the space for necessary additions, or perhaps you’ve been in the woods and wish to be by the bay, then a new build or move is going to satisfy your needs. But if you really want to change things up a bit, have space for additions, or if you're preparing to sell, then you might want to consider the benefits that renovation can provide.

Let’s talk the number one question all clients ask: What does a renovation cost in the Hamptons?

Immediately there’s a benefit from the renovation process. Buying or building a new house costs exponentially more than renovation. Particularly here in the Hamptons where real estate starts in the millions of dollars, starting your reno in the tens of thousands can be a lot lighter on the checkbook. The value that you’re receiving for renovation dollars can be greater than a new purchase. Customizations and restorations or adding special features to your existing home can help you fall in love with it all over again. A process of clearing out the old to make space for the new can be a rebirth of a room or a whole home. There’s a richness and depth that one can apply to their renovation. And this feeling of freshness and renewal comes at a significantly lower cost than moving, building or buying.

Setting aside the numbers: Why should I renovate now?

We tend to get emotionally attached to the spaces where we’ve made memories. Whether it’s raising your kids, falling in love, or spending time with colleagues, your home has the residue of life in it. This emotional cord to your home can make you feel at once reluctant to sell it, but you could also feel driven to leave if you’ve grown out of the home’s space or style. A renovation can help bridge that gap by keeping the essence of the good memories made within the home while uplifting areas that need a little more space, light or a different style. I’ve been on several projects where clients build a new home that recreates something from fond memories. If you love the location of your home and you love the life you’ve built there, don’t leave it. Work with that space to help it evolve to match who you are and what you desire presently.

Another reason to renovate now is safety. 

Every home at some point needs renovation for basic maintenance and repair. Our East End homes take a pummel every year from the stormy hurricane season to the grueling nor’easters in winter. Many of the homes in the Hamptons are historic in nature, some built over one hundred years ago. A structural renovation draws attention to the roof, foundations, and any leaks. Renovations of this focus can help you prevent future disasters, save on utility bills, protect your home’s value, and provide peace of mind.

In the end, answering the question about whether or not to renovate really comes down to your motivation for making a change. There are benefits to building a new home or buying an existing home, but renovation has its own benefits if you love the house you’re in or its location.

 Are you considering a change? Let’s talk.